macule
a flat, discolored spot on the skin less than 1cm
ex: freckles, flat moles, measles, scarlet fever, petechiae
papule
an elevated, firm area less than 1cm in diameter.
ex: wart, elevated moles, lichen planus, skin tag, cherry angioma
patch
a flat, nonpalpable, irregular-shaped macule more than 1 cm.
ex: vitiligo, port-wine stain, mongolian spots, cafe-au-lait spots.
plaque
elevated, firm, and rough lesion with flat top surface greater than 1cm in diameter
ex: psoriasis, seborrheic and actinic keratosis, eczema.
wheal
elevated irregular-shaped area of cuntaneous edema;solid, transient;variable diameter
ex: insect bites, urticaria, allergic reaction, lupus erythematosus
NODULE
elevated firm lesion, deeper in dermis than a papule. 1-2cm
ex: dermatofibroma erythema nodosum, lipomas, melanoma, hemandioma, hemandioma, neurofibroma
TUMOR
elevated and solid lesion, may or may not be clearly distinguished, deeper in dermis, greater than 2cm in diameter
ex: neoplasms, lipoma, hemangioma
VESICLE
elevated, superficial, not into dermis, filled with serous fluid, less than 1cm.
ex: varicella, herpes zoster, impetigo, acute eczema
BULLA
vesicle greater than 1cm
ex: blister, pephigus vulgaris, lupus erythematosus, impetigo, drug reaction
PUSTULE
elevated, superficial lesion;similar to a vesscile but filled with purulent fluid
ex: impetigo, acne, folliculitis, herpes simplex
CYST
elevated, encapsulated lesion, in dermis or subcutaneous layer, filled with liquid or semisolid material
ex: sebaceous cyst, cystic acne
SCALE
heaped-up, keratinized cells; flaky skin;irregular; thick or thin; dry or oily; variation in size
ex: flaking of skin with seborrheic dermatitis following scarlet fever, or flaking of skin following a drug reaction; dry skin, pityriasis, rosea, eczema, xe
LICHENIFICATION
thickening and roughening of the skin; accentuated skin markings; may be secondary to repeated rubbing, irritation, scratching
ex: chronic dermatitis
KELOID
irregular-shaped, elevated, progressively enlarging scar; grows beyond the boundries of the wound
ex: keloid formation following surgery
SCAR
thin to thick fibrous tissue that replaces normal skin following injury or laceration to the dermis
ex: healed wound or surgical incision
EXORIATION
loss of the epidermis; linear hollowed-out crusted area
ex: abrasion or scratch, scabies
FISSURE
linear crack or break from the epidermis to the dermis; may be moist or dry
ex: athletes foot, cracks at the corner of the mouth, chapped hands, eczema, inerigo labialis
CRUST
dried drainage or blood; slightly elevated; variable size; color variable-red,black,tan or mixed
ex: scab on abrasion, eczema
EROSION
loss of part of the epidermis; depressed, moist, glistening;follows rupture of vesicle or bulla
ex: varicella, variola after rupture, candidiasis, herpes simplex
ULCER
loss of epidermis and dermis; concave; varies in size
ex: pressure under ulcer, stasis ulcers, syphillis chancre
ATROPHY
thinning of the skin surface and loss of skin markings; skin appears translucent and paperlike
ex: aged skin, striae, discoid lupus erythematosis
PETECHIAE
tiny, flat, reddish purple, nonblanchable spots in the skin less than .5 cm
cause: infection or bleeding disorders resulting in bleeding under the tissue
ECCHYMOSIS
(bruise) a reddish purple, nonblanchable sport of variable size causes: trauma to the blood vessel resulting in bleeding under the tissue
ANGIOMA
benign tumor consisting of a mass of small blood vessels; can vary in size from very small to large
CAPILLARY HEANGJIOMA
a type of angioma that involves the capillaries within the skin producing an irregular macular patch that can vary from light red to dark red, to purple in color
cause: congenital vascular malformation of capillaries
TELANGIECTASIA
permanent dialation of preexisting small blood vessels resulting in superficial, fine, irregular red lines within the skin
causes: rosacea, collagen vascular disease; atinic damage, increased estrogen levels.
VASCULAR SPIDER
a type of telangiectasia characterized by a small central red area with radiating spider like legs; this lesion blanches with pressure
causes: may occur in absences of disease with pregnancy in lier disease or with vitamin B deficiency.
VENOUS STAR
a type of telangectasia characterized by a nonpalpable bluish star shaped lesion that may be linear or irregularly shaped.
cause: increased pressure in the superficial veins
skin hair and nails are considered the _____ system
integumentary system
three layers of the skin
epidermis-thin/tough; dermis-conctv tissue/collagen; subcut layer-adipose tissue
hair is
threads of keratin; fine vellus and thicker terminal
nails are
hard plates of keratin
Freckles
small flat macules of brown melanin pigment that occur on sun exposed area
MOLE
(nevus) melanocytes, tan to brown color, flat or raised. symmetrical small, smooth, even pigment
MOLE-JUNCTIONAL NEVUS
macular only occuring in children and adolescent
MOLE-COMPOUND NEVI
macular and papular found in adolescents
BIRTHMARKS
may be tan to brown in color
DANGER SIGNS of pigmented lesions
ABCDE; A-asymmetry B-border irregular C-color varia: brwn blue red D-diameter > 6mm E-elevation and enlargement